"I’m too sacred for the sinners/And the saints wish I would leave." - Mark Heard
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Hats and Hearts
In 1998 Tom Brokaw released the book The Greatest Generation to rave reviews. However it is not widely known that Brokaw stole the idea for this book from the 1995 Daniel Amos album Songs of the Heart. Consider the lyrics of generational tribute from When Everyone Wore Hats:
Here's to the long-lost world of chain-smoking dreamers
War and baseball heroes, ticker tape and streamers,
Cocktail drinkers, Bible believers
When light was still filling up a New York river
They knew the grace of tradition
Possessed a love of decorum
Shook the hand of conviction
No one complained then of boredom
When everyone wore hats
They dreamed of ocean voyages
Believed in true romance
Found their hearts and voices
Here's to the long lost hopes of those mothers and fathers
Of rags to riches, of style and manners
To the American dream in a pledge to honor
Promises made to their sons and daughters
Threw off the chains of depression
Built up the arms of aggression
Left us a mixed impression
Some died before they learned their lesson
When everyone wore hats
In the land of immigrants and pilgrims
The world came rolling off their backs
And landed on their children's
They knew the grace of tradition
Possessed a love of decorum
Shook the hand of conviction
No one complained then of boredom
When everyone wore hats
And innocence found simple pleasures
They built the cities, drew the maps
With clues to find their buried treasures
When everyone wore hats
And handed down their pride and prejudice
They dropped good fortune in our laps
We traded it for vice and avarice
When everyone wore hats
Would-be kings with ragged crowns
They say the style is coming back
What's out-of-fashion comes around
Uncertain where the road was leading
But trusting God was on their side
They traced the moral chain of being
And filmed it all in black and white
And everyone wore hats...
I think it's time Mr. Brokaw stared passing Terry Taylor some royalty checks!
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3 comments:
I have not read the book, but I do remember the attention it received
But could you clarify why you say he stole it as opposed to that the song inspired him to write the book?
If Brokow had given some credit to Mr. Taylor I would have used to "inspired". As no credit was given the term "stolen" was used. Of course I'm full of doody 'cause I have no proof that Mr. Big 'n' Mighty Brokaw has even heard of niche-market Christian indie artist Terry Taylor/Daniel Amos. I'M JUST TRYING TO BE CONTROVERSIAL!
Brokaw also takes credit for inventing "news" and "hats."
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